A Balanced Approach to Bone Health

Why we need more than calcium for healthy bones and how So Delicious® Coconut Milk Beverage can help achieve this.

SUMMARY

We all want peace of mind that we are doing everything we can to have strong bones. When it comes to bone health, it is important to think in terms of balance.

Many of us assume that calcium and vitamin D are sufficient for strong bones, but this is only partly true. Our bones are living tissue, active every day and feed on a variety of important minerals that work in concert to build and maintain a strong and resilient skeleton.

In particular, we need magnesium in sufficient quantity, but this important mineral is often over-looked and under-appreciated. Most Americans do not get enough of it because it is routinely refined out of processed foods, and foods that provide good sources of magnesium are not part of a modern diet. Thus achieving regular intake of magnesium needs to be a conscious choice.

That's why So Delicious® Coconut Milk Beverage is fortified with the proper balance of calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D for healthy bones and maximum calcium absorption.

WHY HEALTHY BONES ARE IMPORTANT

Our skeletons are composed of bone, a living tissue that is active in our bodies every day. In addition to providing the structural support that allows us to stand, walk, and play, our bones serve as important nutrient reservoirs and storage sites for minerals that are used in our blood and nervous systems.

The amount of bone mineral that gets deposited during our childhood and adolescence may well be the most important determinant of getting osteoporosis in later life,. And while genetics, gender, and race impact our risk for osteoporosis, diet and weight-bearing physical activity can reduce that risk. What's more, these are elements we can control.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT CALCIUM

About 2/3 of the weight of our bones are minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, fluoride, and others. Most people know the importance of consuming adequate calcium and vitamin D for skeletal health, but other nutrients are also involved, such as magnesium, phosphorus, protein, and potassium.

Did you know that magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body? Like calcium, the levels of magnesium are tightly controlled in the blood stream. This is because magnesium, like calcium, is involved in managing moment-to-moment activities such as nerve transmission, muscle contraction, and blood pressure.

MOST AMERICANS DON'T GET ENOUGH MAGNESIUM.

DOES THAT INCLUDE YOU?

The average intake of magnesium among women in the US is only 68% of the RDA or Recommended Dietary Allowance. In fact, the most recent national nutrition surveys report that on average, more than half of all Americans – including children, teens, adults, and seniors – are not consuming enough magnesium every day. Intake among teenage boys and girls is alarmingly low, and so is their consumption of calcium and vitamin D. That's a serious problem, because the teen years are a critical time for establishing strong and resilient bones for life. Consuming too little of the nutrients necessary for building healthy bones will likely create serious health consequences later in life.

WHERE CAN YOU GET MAGNESIUM?

The best food sources of magnesium are beans, whole grains, green vegetables, nuts and seeds. Other sources include dairy products, meats, and chocolate. You can also get 10% of your DV or Daily Value of magnesium from one serving of So Delicious® Coconut Milk Beverage. See Table. 1